A call for federalism by Western Bahr-el Ghazel intellectuals in diaspora

South Sudan as the world’s newest country had a great opportunity to embark on nation-building, institutional reforms and right decisions on the most suitable system of governance.

However, since 2005 the government has been taking the country on the wrong direction. Most importantly, lack of good government in the country led to questioning the effectiveness of Salva Kiir’s rule.

An overwhelming majority of South Sudanese voted in January 2011 referendum to secede and become Africa’s first new country since Eritrea split from Ethiopia in 1993.

Not long after the independence of the country on July 9th 2011, the young state plunged into several crises and the people of South Sudan have been disappointed.

The country’s post-independence period quickly witnessed the same coarse realities most African countries underwent before. Unfortunately, the country’s government grew a bad habit of ignoring to tackle critical problems during their infancy stages.

Federalism is an example to such ignorance issues currently occurring in the country. As a result, there are been increasingly a debate about the issues of implementation of the federal system in the Republic of South Sudan.

As a result of a serious economy set back, violation of human rights, tribalism, occupation of citizen’s land by the government elements, lack of rule of law and strong constitution in the country, now the majority of the population has been voicing for federalism system in the country.

First of all, federalism or Decentralization of the government is described as a system of government in which sovereignty of an independent country is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and states or provinces of the main territory.

Decentralization of the government is both implemented in developed and developing countries. The World is turning to devolution to improve the performance of their public sectors.

In the United States, for instance, the central government has turned back significant portion of federal authority to the states for a wide range of major programs, including welfare, Medical, legal services, housing, and job training.

The objectives of the federalized country are that state and local governments, being closer to their people, will be more responsive to particular preferences of their constituencies and are able more effectively to find better ways to provide services necessary to their communities.

Recently the three governors of Greater Equatoria, who stand with their people on federalism, a call being championed by the SPLA/M in opposition, are reportedly managing intense relations with the Juba’s regime.

This led to President Salva Kiir directly to criticize the people of Greater Equatoria on Monday June 30th 2014 and warned them to stop calling for federalism, a system of governance that is seen as a threat by Salva Kiir’s home region.

Why dictator Salva Kiir and his followers see the federalism as a threat? South Sudanese have been calling for the federal system since 1947 until now and never their voices for the federalism will be silent by any power on earth.

It is weird that the system of governance, which the whole world regards as a perfect system of ruling diverse country, such as South Sudan, the regime of Salva Kiir has different view, in which it opposes the system.

As a result of the debate about the federalism in the country, a meeting reportedly held on Thursday 26th June 2014 by president Salva Kiir and his recently appointed Chief of Staff, Gen. Malong Awan, has produced an extensive list, which contained the names of Equatorian generals and intellectuals, who would be closely monitored by the government agents in an attempt to silence federalism demands in the country, which led to ethnic cleansing against Equatorians as happened against Nuers in last December 2013 and in Wau city in December 2012 in which the government army shot in cold blood innocent protestors.

How on earth the government that supposes to protect its own citizen kill its people? Who will protect the people of South Sudan from Salva Kiir’s killing machines?

Even the media is not safe from Salva Kiir’s suppression. On Monday 30th June 2014 South Sudanese media protested a directive issued by security officials to desist from publishing information about recent proposals to establish a federal system of government. The intimidation to silence the call for the federalism will never work.

As a people of Western Bahr el Ghazal WBGS intellectuals in Diaspora, we elevate our voices against the attempt by Salva Kiir’s government to silence the call of federalism.

Further, we condemn with strongest words the killing of Equatorian brothers in Juba during last week. We stand united with our fellow citizens all across the country who embrace the federalism, to call for the implementation of the system in the country.

We call on Salva Kiir regime to respect the will of Southern Sudanese people and retreat from the aggressiveness that they are committing against our nation.

Federalism is a perfect model for the country with diverse population such as South Sudan. In Switzerland for instance, there are only four nationalities that lived in harmony when they established federalism system in their country.

In the South Sudan there are more than 62 different tribes with different culture, the federal system will perfectly fit the country, solve its ethnic problems, and help the country to be developed as other nations. END

15 Comments

Peter
Nice article brother, the killings of innocent citizens in Wau, the killings of Nuer innocent citizens and the killings of Equatorians now is enough. Words are meaningless to Salva Kirr and his cohorts, enough is enough.
Time for action has come, Juba government MUST be defeated for once and final.
Allowing this government to continue killings is a shameful thing on all of us the peoples of South Sudan.

All these dead citizens should have been the most important resources our nation has to develop it. Does the government want kill everybody so they can then import foreigners to take over our nation and steal all our God given natural resources? NO, we MUST NOT ALLOW THAT. Where are we going to get people to build the new nation then. We must intervene and take Kirr and hi followers out of government as quick as possible.

You the so call Monyetet Amankeret! which first hand info are you trying to talk a bout if you are not really absent minded? do you really have solution for the troubling south sudan? you are among the elements who are evils to this country i believe. equatorians’ decision to decide for federalism is an exercise for their right as the citizens of this new country which is finding hard time to enjoy harmonious atmosphere. Why then take it as something that’s attacking a tribe. Enough is enough! people are fed up with this gov’t beside, this idea pf federalism was there since with the Equatorians intellectuals and the entire population of equatoria.

The opponents of Fed. System so far have failed to line out why would the system won’t work in South Sudan. All I hear is they inciting fear and hypothetical outcome which tend to feed on the tribal sentiment. It’s time to loudly speak out….

The days of intimidations had gone- no one is going to suppress what the people of South Sudan have chosen as the way to guide their live. Unless that person is absolutely absent in his /her thinking capacity. One tribe cannot and will not control what South Sudanese have opted for their lives.The people of South Sudan have the right to discuss federalism.

Regardless of where one lives, the future of South Sudan belongs to all of us. As such the dispora people have the right to express their views and advocate for peace in the country.

There are those who still thinks dispora South Sudanese should have no voice to the future of the country. You have forgotten the level of contribution the dispora people provides to our young nation. They have educated future leaders and professionals by providing them with school fees and medical cares to their love ones.

Every year, millions of dollars goes into the country from dispora people and yet some of you seems to say the dispora should not say a word into the wrong acts of this government. Think again fellow citizens. We’re all in this together and we will equally be responsible and answerable to the future generation.

Every concern South Sudanese regardless of where they live should be part of the solution.

The call for federalism can not longer be put under the carpet. The only way forward is for every child of this country to wake up and do his/her part for the sake of the next generation. For no country has achieved peace by means of the few but rather the majority. Let’s be on the right side of history so we can have somethign positives to tell our children’s children and their childrens. We should be able to tell them, when we’re tasted, the country rose up and liberated itselve from the dictators and that’s why your free in your own country.

It’s my hope and desire that one day you and me will be able to put our difference aside and put this country on the map among the most peaceful and prosperous countries on earth. We’re sick of the wars, innocent killings, tribalism, neighbourhood fights and killings. We’re one people, all needing peace and security for our children.

Today, we have widows, ophans, war veterans and the eldery all needing our protection but a government that’s suppose to provide them with the basic needs such as freedom, liberty and services has failed them. Why do we have to settle for less while seeing the country is down on its knees? Why should the people keep silent when their life is been threaten on daily basis? History is watching over us and how we deal with this crisis will be a taste for many generations to see.

Most of us in South Sudan have what we called “Nicknames” when you want to annoy a person, call his/her nickname. Federalism is like a nickname for others. It’s too painful, why afraid of what?. Whether people argue and make all sorts of noise, a system can be changed. Those who do not want are enjoying, hence do not want their bread to end. Keep calm, times for everything.

Why do Fertit, Nuer, and Equatorians have opinion on South Sudanese affairs? For God’s sake, just shut the f^ck up and go back to Darfur and Congo? After conspiring with Arabs against the Dinka, do you guys think we have already forgotten you coward acts? No!

Can you be civilize here Mr Loboi? or Dinkas will never be civilize tribe? Could you bring a useful argument? if you do not have anything useful idea to our nation, then please leave the discussion go peacefully.

Without the Uganda’s manpower, Dinka theives would be a gone case. These cowards can’t fight nobady. Uganda wouldn’t stay here in South Sudan any longer and you cowards will see it with your own naked eyes.